Croptilon divaricatum (Nutt.) Raf.

Slender Scratch Daisy; Slender Spring Gold

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Slender Scratch Daisy is a native herbaceous annual in the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is most common in the southern two-thirds of Alabama. Slender Scratch Daisy occurs in sand hills, in dry pine or mixed pine-hardwood forests, around the edges of fields, on roadsides, and in other disturbed habitats. It is an annual with a tap root. Stems are 1-3 feet in height, erect, unbranched below the inflorescence, green in color, and glandular pubescent. Leaves are alternate, sessile, linear to lanceolate in outline, glandular pubescent, with serrate margins (at least apically). The leaves often have short, leafy axillary branches. Flowers are produced in heads. The heads are arranged in loose panicles. The peduncles are glandular pubescent. Each flower has 14-22 yellow disc flowers and 5-11 yellow ray flowers. The fruit is an achene with reddish-tan barbellate pappus.—A. Diamond

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Native

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